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Calvary Hill Sermons

Calvary Hill Sermons

by James O'Dell & Neil Sandlin

Christianity Spirituality

Season 5

The Better Covenant

Israel’s story is the story of a faithful God and an unfaithful people. They had God’s law, His covenant, His priests, His sacrifices, and His promises—and still they did not continue in His covenant. In this sermon from Hebrews 8:7–13, Pastor Neil Sandlin examines why the Old Covenant could reveal the problem of sin but could not fix what was broken in the human heart. Then we turn to the astonishing promises of the New Covenant: God writes His law on our hearts, brings us into a true relationship with Himself, forgives our sins completely, and gathers one people from both Jew and Gentile through Jesus Christ. The New Covenant is not built on a better promise from us to God. It is built on better promises from God to us, all secured by the blood, priesthood, and finished work of Jesus. The Old Covenant said, “If you will.” The New Covenant says, “I will.” And because Jesus is the Mediator and Guarantor of this covenant, every promise is certain.

The Majesty Of His Ministry

In Hebrews 8:1–6, the writer makes the point crystal clear: “We have such a high priest.” Jesus is not serving in an earthly tent, a shadow, or a copy. He is seated at the right hand of the Father, ministering in the true heavenly sanctuary. His saving work is finished, His priestly ministry continues, and His people are secure because He is the guarantor of a better covenant. In this sermon Pastor James O'Dell, discusses how no one needs to run back to old shadows when we have the substance in Christ. Jesus has offered Himself once for all, sat down in victory, and now ministers for His people with compassion, power, and perfect sufficiency. Because we have Jesus, we have a better priest, a better covenant, and a sure salvation.

Saved To The Uttermost

In Hebrews 7:20–28, we’re reminded that Jesus doesn’t just save a little, help a little, or get us part of the way home. He saves “to the uttermost.” Why? Because Jesus is not a temporary priest with a limited ministry. He is the better High Priest, appointed by the Father, guaranteed by oath, alive forever, and always interceding for His people. In this sermon Pastor Neil Sandlin looks at what Jesus is doing right now. He died once for all, rose from the dead, entered the heavenly sanctuary, and now continually represents His people before the Father. So Christian, your hope is not hanging on the strength of your faith. It is resting on the strength of your Savior. Jesus saves completely, continually, and eternally.

Priestly Perfection

What makes a person fit to stand before a holy God? Can religious rituals, good works, church membership, or human effort give us access to God’s presence? In Hebrews 7:11–19, Pastor James O'Dell discuses why the Old Covenant priesthood could never accomplish what sinners truly need. The Levitical priests, sacrifices, and law could reveal sin, but they could not remove it. They could point forward to salvation, but they could not provide it. This passage introduces us to Jesus Christ, our eternal High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Unlike the priests of the Old Covenant, Jesus possesses an indestructible life, offers a perfect sacrifice, and provides complete access to God for all who trust in Him. Through Christ alone, sinners are forgiven, clothed in righteousness, and invited to draw near to the throne of grace with confidence. Join us as we continue our study through Hebrews and see why Jesus is the better priest, the better hope, and the only way to God.

The Better Priest-King

In Hebrews 7:1-10, the writer introduces us to the mysterious figure of Melchizedek—not so that we would become fascinated with Melchizedek, but so that we would see the greatness of Jesus Christ more clearly. Melchizedek appears in Genesis as both king and priest, the king of righteousness and the king of peace. Hebrews shows us that he was a God-given shadow pointing forward to Jesus, our Better Priest-King. In this sermon, Pastor Neil Sandlin discusses how Jesus brings the righteousness we could never achieve, secures the peace we could never earn, and lives forever as our eternal High Priest who never stops interceding for His people. Melchizedek was the shadow. Jesus is the substance. Melchizedek was the portrait. Jesus is the reality. Melchizedek was the signpost. Jesus is the destination.

Guaranteed By God

In Hebrews 6:13–20, the writer of Hebrews reminds weary believers that God’s promises are certain because God Himself is faithful. After urging Christians to persevere with faith and patience, Hebrews points us to Abraham as an example of someone who waited on the promises of God, even when the fulfillment seemed delayed and impossible. In this sermon Pastor James O'Dell explores the certainty of God’s promise, the comfort of God’s oath, and the security believers have in Jesus Christ, our great High Priest. Because God cannot lie and His purposes are unchangeable, Christians can have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before them. Our hope is not wishful thinking. It is a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. Jesus has gone before us as our forerunner, entering behind the curtain on our behalf and securing our eternal future with God. Life is difficult, waiting is hard, and faith often requires patience. But God always keeps His promises. For all who are in Christ, our salvation is secure, our hope is anchored, and our future is certain.

The Faith That Makes It Home

In Hebrews 6:9–12, the author turns from one of the strongest warnings in Scripture to a tender word of encouragement: “Beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.” In this sermon Pastor Neil Sandlin explores how God uses His warnings like spiritual rumble strips and guardrails. They are not meant to drive true believers into despair, but to wake them up, keep them alert, and preserve them all the way to the end. Hebrews reminds us that spiritual drifting is dangerous. We can grow sluggish, sleepy, and inattentive to Christ. But true believers hear God’s warnings and respond. Genuine faith wakes up when God speaks, keeps going through weariness, continues loving and serving the people of God, and presses on in faith and patience until the promises are inherited. True faith is not perfect faith. It is persevering faith. The faith that makes it home is the faith that keeps following Christ until the very end.

When Rain Falls But No Fruit Grows

In this sermon from Hebrews 6:4–8, Pastor Neil Sandlin walks through one of the most sobering warning passages in the Bible. This passage is not meant to teach that true believers can lose their salvation, nor is it meant to be softened until the warning disappears. Instead, Hebrews 6 shows us the danger of experiencing great covenant privileges, sitting under the truth, seeing the work of the Spirit, and living near the things of Christ while never truly belonging to Christ by faith. Using the backdrop of Israel in the wilderness and the covenant imagery of Deuteronomy, this message explores the difference between spiritual exposure and genuine salvation. The same rain can fall on two fields, but eventually the fruit reveals the nature of the soil. Hebrews 6 is not meant to drive true believers away from Christ. It is meant to keep us clinging to Christ.

Of Milk, Meat and Maturity

In this sermon from Hebrews 5:11–6:3, Pastor James O'Dell discusses the author's challenge to move from spiritual apathy to spiritual advancement. The writer of Hebrews warns believers about becoming “dull of hearing,” remaining spiritually immature, and failing to grow in the Word of God. God does not desire His children to remain spiritual infants. He calls us to grow, to practice discernment, to handle His Word rightly, and to press on toward maturity through the power of the Holy Spirit. This message encourages us to examine our hearts, return to the nourishment of Scripture, and keep moving forward in our walk with Christ. Scripture: Hebrews 5:11–6:3 Theme: Spiritual maturity, discernment, and growth in God’s Word

The Better Priest

In Hebrews 5:1–10, we are shown one of the most important categories in all of Scripture for understanding Jesus: Priest. Why did God spend centuries building the categories of prophets, kings, sacrifices, and priests before sending His Son into the world? Because Jesus cannot be rightly understood apart from the Old Testament story that prepared the world for Him. He is not merely a teacher, moral example, or spiritual guide. He is our Great High Priest. In this sermon, Pastor Neil Sandlin looks at the priest God required and the priest God provided. The Old Testament priesthood revealed what sinful people needed: a mediator appointed by God, able to sympathize with human weakness, and able to offer sacrifice for sin. But every earthly priest was limited by his own weakness and guilt. Hebrews shows us that what God required, He Himself provided in Christ. Jesus is the true and better High Priest—appointed by God, enthroned as the eternal Son, compassionate toward sinners, and the final sacrifice for sin. He is the Priest-King after the order of Melchizedek, the one who not only died for His people, but now reigns and intercedes for them forever. This sermon calls us to behold the glory of Christ as our perfect High Priest and to come to Him, because there is no other priest, no other sacrifice, and no other salvation.

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